Faroese minister defends labour laws after foreign tour guides caught working illegally

The Faroese labour minister has dismissed criticism of the country’s regulations after two foreign tour guides were found working without permits, stating that existing laws are clear and enforcement is adequate.

Jacob Vestergaard, minister of labour, told public broadcaster KVF that authorities are fulfilling their oversight duties, despite longstanding concerns raised by the Tour Guide Association over illegal operations by foreign guides. The association has repeatedly flagged the issue, questioning whether monitoring has been sufficient.

The latest incident—where two foreign guides were detained—has renewed scrutiny of enforcement. Police prosecutor Katrin Thorsvig Hansen described the violations as part of a persistent problem, which has also been discussed in the Labour Council. However, Vestergaard maintained that the legal framework is sound and that inspections are being carried out as required.